Drive-chain.



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JOHN NEIL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,031, dated January 9, 1900.

Application filed May 18, 1899- Serial No. 717,356- (No model.)

T0 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN NEIL, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to so construct a drive-chain for bicycles, motocycles, and analogous purposes that the use of rivets may be dispensed with in uniting the links, While the contact-surfaces of the links may have a rolling (as distinguished from a sliding) action, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a section of a chain embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, partly in Vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of two links, showing the manner of connecting and disconnecting the same. Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in longitudinal section, of a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a plan View thereof; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in detail of a part of two links, the cross-bar of one of which is shown in vertical section, said view representing a still further modification of said invention.

Referring to thedrawings, CL represents one of the open links of my improved chain, which consists of side pieces I? I), joined by means of cross-bars c c at the ends, which are integral therewith, said cross-bars being of lesser depth than that of the side bars, but flush therewith upon the top. Each of the cross-bars c is provided with a flat or substantially flat bearing-face d, which is adapted to be engaged by one of the hooks e of a connecting link or block f. The hooks e are each provided with a rounded or convex inner bearing-face g, adapted to engage the bearing-face d of the cross-bar c, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Each of the hooks 613 provided with an inwardly-projecting nose h, which is adapted to overlap the cross-bar o, and thus prevent the block ffrom dropping out of place and becoming disconnected. I also prefer to provide lateral projections t upon said hooks to prevent the links from dropping out when the chain is slackened, and in the event of employing the projections t'I form notches j in the inner faces of the side bars to receive the projections i in the manner shown in Fig. 3 when the blockf is inserted in the open link a.

When the links are connected as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rounded face 9 being in contact with the flat face d, the one rolls upon the other as the chain passes around a sprocket-wheel, thereby eliminating the friction and the great wear incident thereto, which constitutes the important objection to riveted chains. As a result of the rolling action of the bearing-faces upon each other I am enabled to use my improved chain without oil, which is obviously a great advantage. It is manifest that with the overlapping parts It the chain cannot become disconnected so long as it is under tension or remains stretched, even though the lateral projections t' are eliminated. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 4 and 5; but when the partst' are omitted it is necessary to employ some means for retaining the cross-bars in substantial contact with the hooks, as otherwise a suiiicient slack in the chain might permit the links f to drop out. As a partial substitute for and equivalent of the lateral projections 1', therefore, I provide lateral projections 70 upon the blocks f, which projections are adapted to engage the ends of the side bars 5 in such a manner that under ordinary conditions the block f is prevented from being moved back in the open link sufficiently to free the part h from contact with the crossbar 0. In this construction the ends of the side bars I) are rounded, as shown at 1, Fig. 4, so that as the chain passes around the sprocket-wheel the distance between the projections 76 and the end of the side bar will remain substantially the same, and the block f cannot be unlocked from the open link unless moved to substantially the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, when it can be removed at will.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a still further modification of said device by forming teeth upon the bearing-faces d and g of the cross-bar and block, respectively. 'These teeth should be made very fine and only of sufficient length to prevent the coacting parts from shifting their relative positions with respect to each other.

It is obvious that the bearing-faces upon the block may be made fiat and those upon the open link convex or that both may be made convex, although I prefer that only one should be so made. In either event it is apparent that a rolling action would be produced upon the bearings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a chain of the class described, the combination with alternate open links having cross-bars at the respective ends thereof, of intermediate connecting-blocks having hooks at the ends provided with convex working or bearing faces adapted to engage with and roll upon the inner working faces of said crossbars, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a drive-chain having open links, of cross-bars at the ends of said open links, connecting block-links having hooks at the ends adapted to engage with said cross-bars, said hooks having inwardly-projecting extensions adapted to overlap the cross-bars and convex working faces upon said hooks adapted to engage with the working faces of said open links, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a chain having open links, of cross-bars at the ends of said open links, connecting block-links having hooks at the ends adapted to engage with said crossbars, said hooks having inwardly-projecting 35 JOHN NEIL.

Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, FLORENCE KING. 

